PING Grows LPGA Tour Roster

(PHOENIX) – Two women with Solheim Cup ties, Catriona Matthew and Lizette Salas, have signed multi-year agreements to play PING golf equipment, adding further depth to the company’s LPGA roster that includes five-time winner Brooke Henderson and world #6 In Gee Chun, both of whom also renewed their endorsement deals, PING Chairman & CEO John A. Solheim announced. Salas will make her debut as a PING pro at this week’s Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic.

“Catriona will be captaining the European team in 2019, and we’ve had the pleasure of watching Lizette play on the past three U.S. Solheim Cup teams, so they have a Solheim Cup connection,” Solheim said. “And what can you say about Brooke and In Gee? They have been stars from a young age, Brooke winning her first pro tournament at age 14 in Canada, and In Gee having won two majors already. These four ladies will set great examples for the group of exciting young PING rookies coming on staff this season. There’s reason for excitement and optimism up and down the roster.”

Matthew won the 2009 Women’s British Open, has 18 top 10’s in majors, four LPGA victories, and has been a formidable competitor for Team Europe in nine Solheim Cup appearances, compiling an 18-11-8 record with seven team wins. She said joining PING felt like a natural step.

“Having been part of the Solheim Cup experience, I can tell you there’s no atmosphere like it. I’ve always appreciated and respected PING’s commitment to women’s golf. Formalizing our arrangement will give me a lot more continuity and consistency going forward with my equipment, which will help my game.”

Henderson is still only 20, and the Canadian has already won five titles, including the 2016 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. In 2017, she posted her second-consecutive two-win season and raised her career earnings above $3.3 million.

Sixth in the women’s world ranking, South Korean In Gee Chun, 23, renewed her contract. Both of her LPGA victories are majors. At the 2016 Evian Championship she set a major-championship record -- male or female -- for 72-hole score in relation to par at -21.

PING’s roster will include rookies Lauren Coughlin, Erynne Lee, Maddie McCrary, and Lindsey Weaver.